Don’t call it a ‘race,’ but Sports Illustrated writer Peter King to run for Pat Tillman

Jan. 29, 2013 - Sports Illustrated sports writer Peter King reports during the Baltimore Ravens media day in preparation for Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

Peter King met Pat Tillman only once, but once was enough to leave a lasting impact on the longtime Sports Illustrated writer.

Tillman had the kind of effect on pretty much everyone.

“It was his rookie year in training camp with the Cardinals,” King recalled, “and to this day, he’s the only player in (my) 29 years of covering the NFL who ever arrived for an interview on a bicycle. I remember thinking, ‘This guy’s different.’

“When I go to training camps every year, I always ask the coaches and front office people, ‘OK, I need to know somebody who’s going to make your team who I don’t know.’ That’s how you get to know new guys. So everybody who I asked that question to that year with the Cardinals said, ‘You’ve got to talk to Pat Tillman. He’s going to make this team as a seventh-round pick.’ ”

Tillman did just that, and to this day King can’t really remember what he wrote about the former Arizona State linebacker-turned safety. He just remembers it was a good conversation and that he saw great things in Tillman.

“You could tell how much he valued education, that he was into all kinds of different things, and that when he finished his career as a football player he would be absolutely fine,” King said. “If he had made the Cardinals or didn’t make the Cardinals, his life was going to be very good and very profitable.”

Sadly, Tillman died in 2004 when, as a member of the Army Rangers, he was caught in friendly fire while on deployment in Afghanistan. He was 27.

Fifteen years after meeting Tillman, the 55-year-old King plans to participate in the ninth annual Pat’s Run, a 4.2-mile run/walk that takes place April 20 at Sun Devil Stadium and benefits the Tillman Military Scholars program.

King will also hold a “Tweetup” April 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Tom’s Tavern in downtown Phoenix, for which he is inviting his Twitter followers and SI readers to join him for an open football discussion with Cardinals coach Bruce Arians, General Manager Steve Keim and team President Michael Bidwill.

Cardinals cheerleaders, mascot Big Red and several players will also be on hand, including Patrick Peterson, Jay Feely, Sam Acho and O’Brien Schofield.

The cost is $40 and includes food and two drinks, with all profits going to the Pat Tillman Foundation. To reserve a seat, call 602-379-0102 or visit the ticket office at the Cardinals’ training facility in Tempe or the box office at University of Phoenix Stadium.

“There are so many great reasons to try and support his foundation that it’s an easy cause for me,” said King, who has participated in two half-marathons and several 10K events.

Because we had King on the phone, we weren’t about to let him go without also picking his brain on the upcoming NFL season and this month’s draft. Here are some highlights:

Do the Cardinals have a shot in the NFC West? “I think it’s going to be really hard. The 49ers and Seahawks are in a Yankees-Red Sox arms race. They were both really good at the end of last year, and they both improved themselves. I think Carson Palmer is going to have to be really as good as he’s ever been for the Cardinals to really be a competitive team for a playoff spot. ... But I think any one of those four quarterbacks in the division come October 1 you could call the best one in the division.”

How many quarterbacks will be drafted in Rounds 1-2? “That’s a great question. I’d say between four and five. You’ve got Geno Smith (West Virginia) and Matt Barkley (USC) and then Ryan Nassib (Syracuse) and either (Mike) Glennon of North Carolina State or (E.J.) Manuel of Florida State. I think there’s some love for both of those guys right now.”

My favorite player in this year’s draft is LSU’s Barkevious Mingo – and not just because of his name – but who’s yours?: “I’ll tell you why you’re favorite player is Barkevious Mingo. It’s because he’s got a brother named Hugh and another brother named Hughtavious. That’s the best factoid of the draft. But how do you know if you’re calling someone to dinner? If you say, ‘Hugh, dinner!,’ how do you know if you mean Hugh or Hughtavious?

Funny stuff, so who’s your favorite player?: “My pick is the classic boom or bust guy, Alec Ogletree (the linebacker from Georgia). Judged on playmaking alone, the guy’s a Tasmanian devil. He’s got safety speed and at times in his career he’s had Ray Lewis-type impact. When he got a DUI in Arizona while he was training, you really have to question his judgment, so I think he’ll drop in the draft.”

How much of a concern is the latest problem with Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski’s forearm?: “I think his long-term greatness is very much in question. … The human body just isn’t meant at that size to have that many collisions. I have my questions now about whether Gronkowski will be truly great long term.”

Who’s your sleeper pick to be a playoff team in 2013?: “I think potentially the Buffalo Bills are going to be a fascinating team to watch in part because I think (new head coach) Doug Marrone is going to make the Bills relevant again. If he can get a quarterback to play competently from Opening Day on – whether it’s Kevin Kolb or someone like Ryan Nassib – the Bills have a chance to really be a competitive team.”

OK, so how competitive will you be next Saturday in Pat’s Run? “I wouldn’t call it a race. All it is for me is a jog. I finish; I don’t compete.”

Reach The Heat Index at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac and listen to him every Monday at 5:30 p.m. on AZ Sports Talk with Roc and Manuch on NBC Sports Radio AM 1060.

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